Brick Schools Transportation Director Pete Morris Mourned
BRICK, NJ — Brick Township school buses were adorned with black ribbons on Monday as the school district joined family and friends in mourning Peter Morris, the director of transportation for the Brick Township Schools and a Brick Schools alumnus, who died Saturday evening. He was 56 years old.
“Pete was Brick through and through!” Brick Superintendent Thomas G. Farrell wrote in a message to district staff and families about Morris’s death.
Morris, who was a three-sport star at Brick Township High School and won a national championship in ice hockey in college, was attending his son’s ice hockey game when he suffered a massive heart attack, according to a GoFundMe campaign created by a family friend.
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“Pete’s love for Brick Schools was evident in all he did,” Farrell said. “He truly connected with all he came in contact with by always ensuring that they were seen, heard, and valued.”
“Pete believed in possibilities and kept all of us focused on what could be by embracing those possibilities and moving forward with a positive outlook each and every day,” Farrell said. “Pete’s effervescent personality and energy will be so missed.”
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Morris, a 1985 graduate of Brick Township High School, attended Drum Point Elementary School and Lake Riviera Middle School. He was a standout three-sport student-athlete, including the quarterback his senior year for Coach Warren Wolf and played ice hockey for Coach Bob Auriemma.
Morris continued playing hockey in college at American International College, and was captain of the school’s national champion team in 1990. Morris earned degrees in history and education from American International College, and later earned a master’s degree in education administration from Georgian Court University in 2000, and his doctorate in educational and organizational leadership from Rowan University in 2005, according to a district statement and his LinkedIn profile.
He played semi-pro hockey after college before returning to Brick Township High School in 1992 as a special education teacher. He was named an assistant principal at Brick Memorial High School in 2002, and served there until 2006 when he left to become the superintendent of the Lavallette School District, and additionally became superintendent of the Bay Head School District in 2016.
Morris also was an adjunct professor at Georgian Court for more than 18 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Morris retired from his superintendent positions in 2021 and became the interim director of special services in the Brick Schools in 2022. In July 2023 he was named director of transportation for the district, a full-circle moment for Morris, whose father was a bus driver for the Brick Township Schools.
“The sudden and unexpected passing of Dr. Morris is difficult for all of us in Brick Schools; we are a family,” Farrell said. “Even if you didn’t have direct contact with him, Dr. Morris, he found a way to communicate with us all through his daily praise of his team.”
“I considered Pete a colleague and a friend,” Farrel said. “On behalf of Brick Schools and the Brick Board of Education, our sincere and deepest condolences go out to the Morris family, friends, and colleagues.”
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Morris is survived by his wife, Brooke; daughter Laine, and sons Matthew and Peter, as well as extended family.
Farrell said counselors would be available to the staff in the transportation department as well as at Brick Township High School to support students and staff.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
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